On the strength of a 2-0 start, Notre Dame has moved into the Top 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Despite the stellar start, the schedule grows tougher this weekend. The No. 10 Irish travel to Raleigh, NC, to face the North Carolina State Wolfpack (1-0) at Carter-Finley Stadium. It will be the first of six games against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference this year. Notre Dame is 28-0 against ACC opponents in the regular season since 2018.
Notre Dame’s first true road game of the season marks just the third time ever that the Irish will face NC State. The Wolfpack own a 2-1 advantage over the Irish. NC State defeated Notre Dame 28-6 in the 2003 Gator Bowl. In 2016, NC State prevailed 10-3 over the Irish in what is remembered as the hurricane game. It was played during a driving wind and rain from Hurricane Matthew. The Irish got in the win column in 2017 in South Bend, defeating the Wolfpack 35-14.
To keep this year’s momentum rolling, the Irish must avoid a let-down game against a formidable opponent. Notre Dame’s offense has been nearly unstoppable, and the defense has not allowed a touchdown. The blowout victories over outmanned squads from Navy and Tennessee State have inspired confidence. But after outscoring those teams 98-6, the waters get a little deeper, taking on NC State in their home opener. NC State kicked off its 2023 season with a 24-14 road win over the Connecticut Huskies.
Notre Dame’s Offense Flying High
The Notre Dame offense has scored at will this season against inferior competition. The offense has generated 1,001 yards with 589 passing yards and 412 yards rushing. The Irish have scored eight touchdowns through the air and five on the ground.
On the other side of the ball, the Wolfpack’s defense had a decent outing against UConn. The pass rush recorded two sacks and the unit also had an interception and six pass breakups. In defending against the run, however, NC State gave up 160 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Depending on what adjustments the Wolfpack makes on defense, the Irish’s five-headed monster at running back, led by Audric Estime, should be able to set the pace on offense.
Irish quarterback Sam Hartman is no stranger to NC State. A Wake Forest transfer, Hartman went 1-2 against NC State as a Demon Deacon. He had a rough outing last year against NC State. While he threw for 397 yards and a pair of touchdowns, he also threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. All told in his three games as a starter against NC State, Hartman is 72 of 131 passing (54.9%) for 923 yards. He has thrown for six touchdowns and six interceptions.
Hartman has started fast this season. He has already thrown six touchdowns with no interceptions while completing 82.5% of his passes. On Saturday, the Notre Dame offense faces an NC State defense that tied for 11th in FBS in points allowed last season. The unit gave up just 19.2 points per game to opponents. That statistic alone suggests that Notre Dame might not be able to run up the score as they have in their first two games.
Wolfpack Boasts Experience of Their Own at QB
Like the Irish, NC State will have an experienced quarterback under center. Sixth-year senior Brennan Armstrong spent the previous five seasons at Virginia. In his Wolfpack debut, Armstrong, a dual-threat QB, threw for 155 yards and rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns against UConn. In his collegiate career, Armstrong has rushed for 1,363 yards and 22 touchdowns while passing for 9,189 yards and 58 touchdowns. He transferred from Virginia to play for NC State’s new offensive coordinator Robert Anae. The two were at Virginia together two seasons ago when Armstrong had his most successful season.
While Notre Dame’s defense has been solid in the first two games, NC State is the first Power Five opponent the unit has faced this year. Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman is aware of the challenge that facing Armstrong presents for his defense.
“I think it’s the mindset of your guys that are rushing,” Freeman said at this week’s press conference. “We can’t have guys behind the quarterback, we can’t give him vertical lanes to step up and escape from. But it’s a double-edged sword because I don’t want four guys spying the quarterback. Having a QB spy is something you’ll have every game but it’s a mindset of understanding we have to be controlled in our rush. We can’t be out of control and end up behind the quarterback and give him those lanes to escape from.”
A True Test
Whether or not the Irish can rise to the expectations following two dominating wins remains to be seen. The Irish have averaged 49 points a game thus far, but facing a team that prides itself on defense presents a fresh challenge and a true test, especially on the road. Another key to victory for the Irish will be corralling Armstrong and slowing down the Wolfpack’s multi-faceted offense. Regardless of the outcome, the matchup against NC State should provide both programs with a better idea of where their respective strengths and weaknesses reside.
Photo courtesy: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
